JAKARTA, RAKYAT NEWS – Shell Indonesia has denied rumors regarding the closure of its entire network of gas stations in the country. The British energy giant clarified that it remains committed to its operations in Indonesia, emphasizing its focus on providing services to its customers.

“We cannot comment on market speculation. Shell Indonesia continues to focus on its operations at gas stations for our customers,” said Susi Hutapea, Vice President of Corporate Relations at Shell Indonesia, in a statement on Sunday, November 24, 2024.

Shell currently operates over 170 gas stations in Indonesia and has a significant presence in the downstream sector, including lubricant manufacturing and fuel storage terminals in Gresik. Additionally, Shell is involved in upstream operations as the operator of the Masela PSC, which includes the Abadi gas field in partnership with Inpex.

The company had previously announced plans to close 1,000 gas stations globally within the next two years as part of a shift towards energy transition. In place of traditional fuel stations, Shell intends to expand its electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.

As part of its energy transition strategy, Shell aims to increase the number of EV charging stations to 200,000 by the end of this decade, up from 54,000 currently. The company also plans to divest around 500 gas station locations, including joint ventures, by 2024 and 2025.

Shell is ramping up its retail network to respond to changing customer needs, focusing on the growing demand for EV charging stations. The company plans to expand its charging network in China and Europe, where demand is particularly strong.(Uki Ruknuddin)